The 1979 storm struck at 6:35 p.m. and, according to the National Weather Service, "touched down in the southwest outskirts of town and then moved through the downtown business district and then to Cranberry.

"One hundred and nine homes were damaged and 24 businesses. Some had roofs completely torn off. Trees were uprooted and snapped, crushing two cars and damaging some homes. There were no fatalities or injuries."

The storm produced winds that were estimated to have been in excess of 120 mph and caused more than $1.5 million in damages in Westminster. There was considerable damage to the roofs and windows of several buildings on West Main Street near the intersection of Carroll Street, including Geiman's Furniture, J.C. Penney, and Montour House. Farther east, the buildings at the old Shriver Canning Factory at routes 140 and 27 were heavily damaged.

Downtown Westminster was left a mess. Main Street was littered with debris from downed trees, shingles, cars, glass windows, utility poles, wires, trash and metal roofs and much of the clean-up required heavy equipment including front-end loaders and large dump trucks.

A Maryland State Police teletype at the time told of a "Report of Unusual Occurrence."

The memo said, "A tornado struck the main business district and neighboring residential area of Westminster, Md. … Maryland State Police assistance was immediately requested by Sgt. Harry Zook, officer (on duty) Westminster City Police." Sam Leppo was the Westminster police chief at the time.

All last week, preparations were in full swing for this year's annual Carroll County 4-H and FFA Fair that set up at the Agriculture Center, just south of Westminster. This year's fair will continue to Saturday morning, Aug. 8.

A Westminster man charged with manufacturing drugs and related offenses after investigators say they found evidence of a marijuana growing operation and about 7 pounds of loose suspected marijuana on his property entered a plea agreement Monday and will serve a sentence no longer than 12 months.

The Agricultural Law Education Initiative will host a free webinar Thursday, Aug. 6 from noon to 1 p.m. to discuss the potential impacts of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Clean Air Act.